Big Cheers for the Volunteers!

We held a hotpot supper recently as a thank you to all of the wonderful volunteers we have worked with over the past few years to make the area and even better place to live, work and enjoy!

Held at our offices in Hamilton Davies House, we were joined by over 30 volunteers to celebrate the great work that has been achieved to date and enjoy a scrumptious hotpot courteous of Alan and Ann Cavanagh who also do a lot of volunteering themselves!

During the evening we shared a presentation showcasing all of the different groups and individuals who have achieved so much across the area through their hard work and effort as a volunteer, on projects including:

  • iTea and Biscuits – delivering basic IT skills to local people. To date there have been more than 2,000 learner attendances, which couldn’t have been achieved without the help of over 1,000 volunteer hours
  • I C Art – bringing urban art to Irlam and Cadishead
  • Litter Picking – a team of local residents keeping the area tidy
  • Gardening – planters introduced at Irlam Station and improvements made to the HDT car park and Poorlots Allotment
  • Friends of Irlam Station – volunteers who want to ensure that the station is loved, looked after and used to its potential
  • Hollins Green Community Shop – HDT helped the shop recruit a couple of volunteers in the areas of bookkeeping and admin

Find out more about the volunteers involved in the above projects and other volunteering activities on the Roll of Honour below. hot pot

We have been helping to regenerate the area for over 11 years and want to deliver much more, but with a small team of 8, we can’t do it without the help of volunteers.

Volunteering in your local community can make a massive difference, and although that’s a major driver to people getting involved and wanting to give something back, it’s not just about what you can do for others. Volunteering has many benefits to the individual and group too.

Do you want to make a real and lasting difference in your local area?

Do you have some time to spare?

Do you have a skill to offer, or the enthusiasm and drive to make a difference?

Then why not get in touch? If you are interested in having a chat about possibly becoming a local volunteer, please drop us a line on:  [email protected] or 0161 222 4003.

“We have a tight-knit community that have invested countless hours to help enhance the area and it was important to celebrate their achievements and say thank you. We were delighted with the turnout and hope that everyone enjoyed themselves!”  Tony Prescott, Operations Manager

“There are so many wonderful people locally that are passionate about where they live and the area flourishes because of it. We wanted to bring the volunteers together and share the great work that has been achieved between them and also say a thank you with some hotpot and wine. We couldn’t deliver what we do without their help and we hope it continues in the future!”  Mandy Coleman, Consultant General Manager

Roll of Honour

Alan Perrin – Litter Picking, Amanda Davenport – I C Art, Amy Wells – Legal Contracts, Ange Rittaler – iTea and Biscuits and Foodbanks, Anna Gale – Litter picking, Beatrice Perrin – Litter picking, Brenda Leather –  I C Art, Brian Ward – I C Art, Dave Alletson – iTea and Biscuits, Dave Mann – I C Art, Dave Tudor – I C Art, Debbie Yates – Providing local history talks and advice on heritage projects, Emma Anthony – Friends of Irlam Station, Frank Cleary – I C Art, Geraldine Owen – Hollins Green Community Shop, Gina Harris – Friends of Irlam Station, Ian Harris – Gardening, Ian Taylor – Gardening and Friends of Irlam Station, James Taylor – IT assistance, Jane Edwards – I C Art, Janet Morgan – Litter picking, Joan Hill – Meet and greeting iTea and Biscuits learners, admin support and I C Art, Joe Illidge – Friends of Irlam Station, Joe Kean – Friends of Irlam Station, John Chamberlain – Litter picking, John Leather – I C Art, John Morgan – Litter picking, Josh Blackwell – Supporting HDT events including iTea and Biscuits and the HDT revamp, as well as volunteering as a model for the Irlam Station wi-fi advert, Joshua Thomas  – Filling the bowsers and watering the beautiful baskets as part of In Bloom, painting hoardings as part of I C Art and helping ICY (Irlam and Cadishead Youth) summer events, Keith Hunt  – Redefining cycle routes, Kelly Mangnall – Administration, Linda Burgess – Hollins Green Community Shop, Lorraine Gordon – Litter Picking, Lynn Taylor – Gardening and Friends of Irlam Station, Madeline Blears – I C Art, Margaret Fearne – I C Art, Margaret Valentine – I C Art, Margaret Vaudrey – Research and writing support, Marjorie Mason – I C Art, Martin Dolan – Litter picking, Maurice Cullen – Admin and communication, Maurice Griffin – Litter picking, Nikita Sandford – I C Art, Paul Blackwell – HDT Revamp, Roger Lightup – Litter picking, Friends of Irlam Station, Sheila Illidge – Friends of Irlam Station, Sophie Blackwell – HDT Revamp, Stephen Dyke – iTea and Biscuits and gardening, Steve Harrison – Gardening and painting, Steve Higgs  – Friends of Irlam Station and Vera Chamberlain – Litter picking.

A big thanks also to TalkTalk, Kingsland Wines, Brooks, Marks Memorials and the Rotary Club of Irlam for all of their support with iTea and Biscuits.

Volunteer roll call2

Volunteer roll call2

Posted on: 4th November 2015